| “The combination of reduced benefit income and reduced availability and affordability of services paints a bleak picture for disabled people, which is not static.” “We found that although we could calculate and predict the financial impact of a shift in uprating of benefits from the retail price index (RPI) to the lower consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate, for example, several other reforms were affecting the households in our study which we had not taken account of, including pensions and mortgage repayments, social care funding policy, closure of local services, increases in fuel prices, and so on.” “We have calculated how much income the six households have lost over the six-month period between this report and our previous update report” (ranging from £74.70 to £781.55). “…many of the disabled people in our study have reported having to ‘fight’ or ‘battle’ the administrative or professional systems surrounding the benefits they receive and services they use, and have encountered administrative errors and delays which make their lives harder.” “Another negative effect of a highly complex system – combined with a rapid government reform agenda – is that many disabled people are confused about and unaware of the changes in the reform system that may soon affect them.” “Perhaps the most striking development that is starting to become apparent in this update report is how several of the households in our study have sought different sources of financial assistance when faced with a reduction of state support…a picture is emerging whereby community services are not just being used to supplement but to replace the welfare state, and to justify a removal of this safety net…using up a trust fund and relying on credit are clearly unsustainable routes to take.” “In this report we have seen local budget cuts taking effect: the disabled people in our study are struggling to get equipment, being refused community health services, and having to contribute a proportion of their benefits to services which had hitherto been free.” “There are three developing themes… -Financial vulnerability and lack of resilience to shocks… -Bureaucracy and administrative delays… -…alternative sources of financial assistance…are not sustainable…” | 